Overview
- Prosecutors say Williamson and associates moved roughly $225,000 from a dormant political campaign between February 2022 and September 2024, disguising payments as a no‑show job routed through business entities.
- The 23-count indictment includes conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct justice, subscribing to false tax returns, and making false statements.
- Court filings allege the funds ultimately went to an account controlled by Sean McCluskie or his spouse, and that an unnamed former public official later helped conceal the payments when Williamson joined the governor’s office.
- Prosecutors also accuse Williamson of claiming more than $1 million in improper business deductions for personal luxuries and of creating backdated contracts after a January 2024 subpoena related to PPP loans.
- Williamson appeared in Sacramento federal court, was released after entering a not‑guilty plea, and the U.S. Attorney says the probe remains active as McCluskie has pleaded guilty and agreed to repay $225,000; officials say neither Newsom nor Xavier Becerra is charged.